Rome & Assisi Pilgrimage...

Curious about our recent pilgrimage to Rome & Assisi? Then you are in the right place! In this blog post you will hear all about our recent trip - the beautiful sites we visited and the interesting people we met. 
Day 1
After arriving in the late afternoon and checking into the Residenza Madri Pie, the group were able to see some of the sites of Ancient Rome by coach on their way to the Aventine Hill. They met Fr Greg Gresko, US Benedictine monk, priest and theologian, who accompanied them on the short climb up the hill. The group were given an informative, humorous tour by Fr Greg of the Basilica of Santa Sabina, which dates back to 422 A.D, the Orangery and St Anselmo. The pilgrims joined the beautiful vespers at Sant Anselmo before making their way back down the hill towards the restaurant where they were served never-ending dishes of delicious "Roman" food.  
Day 2
An early morning start to attend the Papal Audience is a must! The pilgrims made their way to the Audience with the help of local guides to navigate the crowds and the security check points. We got through the barriers in time to see the Pope passing by and to hear his prayers for the nations. After a quick break at a local cafe serving fresh croissants and cappucinos, the coach departed towards the Abbey of Tre Fontane with guide Kiron. It is said that St Paul's head bounced three times when he was beheaded and in each contact point on the ground a spring of water sprang up.
From there, the group were driven to the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls, one of the four major basilicas. The group enjoyed a quick lunch in their cafe before a very interesting guided tour by Kiron. Not many of the pilgrims had visited the Basilica before and they were very intrigued by the history of the Basilica. 
The group returned to the centre of the Old City of Rome for an afternoon walking tour of Chiesa Il Gesu and the St Ignatius Rooms by local guide, Sabina, from Pietre Vive (Living Stones). To end the day, the group made their way to the Venerable English College to join in the Mass and hear about the history and current affairs of the seminary. 
Day 3
After a good night's rest, the group met early in the morning ready to walk the 5 minutes from the Madri Pie to St Peter's Basilica to say a private Mass at the Altar of San Giuseppe. After Mass, the group had some free time in the Basilica before meeting local guide, Simona, for an informative and animated tour of the Basilica. The group had time to process the information and rest their feet during a lunch break before walking around the walls of the complex towards the Vatican Museums. The afternoon was spent listening to Art Historian Liz Lev describing many of her favourite pieces of artwork in the Museums before ending the tour in the impressive Sistine Chapel. 
Day 4
After three full, busy days in Rome, the group visited the last site on their Rome itinerary - the Catacombs of Priscilla. These series of underground graves are a must visit! After saying Mass in the Chapel at the catacombs, the group got comfortable on the coach for the two hour drive through the beautiful Italian countryside towards Assisi. They stopped at the Franciscan Sanctuary of Greccio along the way where they saw the first Nativity Scene done by St Francis and the modest Hermitage with beautiful views of the Umbrian countryside. 
Day 5
After enjoying a delicious home-made Italian breakfast and morning prayers looking out over the valley, the pilgrims arrived in the Old Centre and made their way towards the Basilica of St Francis. Fr Dan gave a stimulating and challenging guided tour around the Basilica, sharing information about the life of St Francis and his rule and giving some background to the beautiful frescoes that cover the interior walls of the basilica. After a walk through the cobbled streets of Assisi and lunch at a local restaurant, the group had a guided tour of the Basilica of St Clare and learnt more about the Poor Clares. 
Day 6
The day began with a visit to the peaceful and quiet San Damiano complex. The pilgrims said Mass in the Chapel before wandering around the complex at will. It was lovely to have time to reflect and collect ones thoughts on all that had been experienced so far on the pilgrimage. 
The afternoon was sunny and warm so several pilgrims chose to take advantage of the large swimming pool at the guesthouse whilst others joined an excursion to Perugia. 
A final group dinner was enjoyed at a boutique restaurant with a stunning view up the hill to Assisi.
Day 7 
Pilgrims enjoyed their final Country House breakfast before saying morning prayers in the peaceful garden for the final time. It was the perfect end to an action-packed week of interesting guided tours and impressive sites of biblical significance. The pilgrimage was spiritually refreshing and a wonderful break from the busyness of everyday life! A week split between Rome and Assisi doesn't seem enough and there are many places left still to visit - a wonderful excuse for another trip! 
We would love you to organise a Rome & Assisi pilgrimage from your Parish! 
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